Rented a Class A...NEVER again.

[Bubtoofat]

We crossed over to the dark side temporarily.....or are truck campers the dark side? I forget. Spent 2 weeks in a "very popular brand" class A that we rented from a local dealer here in Michigan. My mom has always wanted to travel in a class A so we bit the bullet and shelled out lots of cash for a trip that was enlightening to say the least.

I get the feeling that my mother's expectations far exceeded the realities in this case. And my wife and I were actually looking at class A coaches at the last camper show since we plan on full timing when we retire. That ain't happening now. I'd rather have a TT or 5th wheel.

This was a 1 year old coach, Ford chassis, V-10, with 19,000 miles on the ODO.

Likes:

#1. We didn't have to exit the vehicle to get into the camper like we do with our TC.

#2. The coach had incredible fuel range. We never stopped between our home in Michigan, all the way to North Carolina. Even then we didn't really have to stop for gas. It still had 1/4 tank.

#3. GREAT views out that HUGE windshield. It was like an IMAX theater.

#4. HUGE holding tanks.

#5. Uh....did I mention that we didn't have to exit the vehicle to get into.... oh yes, I already did.

Well that pretty much sums it up.


Dislikes:

#1. Very noisy. Squeaks, rattles, banging, something in the undercarriage sounded like a dog barking with every bump, dash rattling and bouncing, steering wheel rattling and bouncing, slide out rattling and squawking, OYE! It was deafening. Plus, what sounded like a bad U-joint was making so much noise people would stop and stare at us slowly rolling by in the campgrounds.

#2. Stoopid big. It was worse than when we had our TT. VERY limited as to where we could take this beast. Maybe we are just used to our awesome TC that goes nearly anywhere.

#3. No gravity filling of the fresh water tank. You had to hook up the hose to a pressurized spigot and turn on the coach pump to fill the tank.

#4. The windshield washer reservoir was only 1/2 gallon despite there being enough room for a 5 gallon tank.

#5. The headlights were so bad I would have been better off with two candles taped to the front bumper. And the high beams were no better.

#6. The Ford V-10 dipstick had so much rust on it I was afraid to pull it out.

#7. The steering was terrible. It followed every little groove and rut in the road. Wandering has a whole new meaning for me now.

I could go on but I won't. All in all we had lots of fun in the Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge. And boy am I glad we tried one out before buying one. I feel like I dodged a bullet. We have a lot of laughs about it now that it's over.

My wife told the rental manager when we took it back that renting something like that should entice you into buying one. Then she told him that she would never even consider one now. He was very candid with us and said that we wouldn't believe how many people buy a class A and a year later trade it in on something else.

So just a word of advice. Try it before you buy it. Especially if the price tag is around $100,000. As for my wife and I? We'll stick with our TC for years to come. Who knows? Maybe full timing in a TC isn't so crazy.

Mike

[Lantley]

I think most of your comments are related to driving a real truck chassis and it was a rental unit.

Although I think your pros and cons list is very accurate. Your expectations may have been a bit unrealistic.
While it won't change the size to get a superior ride you need to try a diesel pusher

[BTPO1]

There's always pro and cons on everything. For us the fact that we don't have to climb up onto the bed was the determining factor.

Yes it is a little bouncier with the front straight axle (F-53), but so is my CJ-5 with a straight axle. We just have learned to adapt.

Our Class A is only 27 foot so we can still go almost anywhere we want, but sometimes I miss the TC. We still have the TC and I have been thinking of using it again in the future. JMO

[Bubtoofat]

A salesman there tried to justify all the issues by saying that the rentals aren't as "well built" as the higher priced units of the same brand, HAHA. I told him that it's the same chassis, same engine, same transmission, same basic structure and that the only real differences are the options and amenities. He walked away in a huff.
Mike

[jbarkley]

Good advice, we love our 5th Wheel.

[GMandJM]

Was this by chance a Thor MH? Just curious.

[Vulcan_Rider]

Bubtoofat wrote:
W We'll stick with our TC for years to come. Who knows? Maybe full timing in a TC isn't so crazy.

I think a medium to large class C is a good compromise (24 to 28 feet). Some even have slide outs for a more roomy feel.

I got my 7 year old Winnie for about $26K.
And the rentals are a LOT cheaper too.